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Three incumbents and a former officeholder are competing for three seats on Mayfield Borough Council.

All the candidates express concern about lingering drainage and flooding problems in the lower section of the borough.

"Flood control remains an issue," said Democratic Councilman Thomas Gallagher.

"Every time it rains, you hold your breath that we don't have flooding in some of the flood-prone areas," Democratic Councilwoman Janice Joyce said. "The pipes cannot handle the amount of water that's coming any more."

The issue dates back years and some flood-control work has been performed in the Rushbrook Creek area.

"Basically, you are looking at a very old stormwater system," said Democratic Councilman George Pittsman Jr. "That was designed originally for 400 or 500 houses and now, Mayfield has 800 houses."

Republican nominee John Kleinbauer, a former councilman, recalled how some drainage improvements have been carried out.

"We have to get the funding to continue that process," he said.

Stormwater in the borough backs up as a 24-inch pipe feeds into a 10-inch pipe, Mr. Pittsman said. "You can't gut the whole town and put in the right-size pipes," he said.

Borough finances tie into the flood-control issue and are an overall concern among candidates.

"We are trying to do our best with the tax money we have, realizing the burden everybody is placed under as well," Mrs. Joyce said.

"We need to keep the taxes where they are at and try to keep the costs down," Mr. Kleinbauer said.

The borough probably will undertake some road work in the spring, two councilmen said.

"Hopefully, we can get some paving done," Mr. Gallagher said.

"You are always borrowing money to try to patch them up and pave them as much as you can," Mr. Pittsman said. "It's a challenge these days."

The borough recently completed installation of utilities at a new ballfield at the borough athletic complex and council plans to install an elevator in the Borough Building.

"We've got a couple little things going," Mr. Gallagher said.

The borough's annual budget is only $800,000, Mr. Pittsman said.

"You can't do a heck of a lot with that," he said.

Mr. Kleinbauer said more commercial development would help broaden the borough's tax base.

"I would like to get more businesses to come into town," he said.

Contact the writer: jhaggerty@timesshamrock.com

Thomas J. Gallagher

Age: 51

Party: Republican/Democrat

Family: Wife, Mary Clare; two sons, Patrick and Thomas

Employment: Truck driver

Education: Graduate of Lakeland High School

Experience: 8½ years on council

Janice Joyce

Age: 58

Party: Republican/Democrat

Family: Husband, Tom; son, Michael

Employment: Director of curriculum at Lackawanna Trail School District

Education: Bachelor's degree in elementary education, Marywood; master's degree in reading, Marywood; master's degree in school administration, University of Scranton

Experience: Council member since 2007

George Pittsman Jr.

Age: 42

Party: Democrat

Family: Wife, Jennifer; daughters Elizabeth and Margaret; son, Noah

Employment: Special education teacher, Wallenpaupack Area School District

Experience: Three terms on council

Education: Undergraduate and master's degrees from Marywood University

John Kleinbauer

Age: 52

Party: Republican

Family: Wife, Valerie; two sons, Jason and Jordan; two daughters, Kelsea and Kateri; three stepchildren, Daniel, Michael and Matthew

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